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BACKGROUND Erythroderma is a clinical entity that may cause severe systemic manifestations. The difficulty with erythroderma lies in finding the underlying aetiology. It is imperative to demonstrate precise aetiology whenever possible so that distinct therapy may be initiated. At times, despite finding the aetiology, relapses constitute a great menace. The purpose of our study was to assess the clinical profile and aetiology of erythroderma. Besides, the study also illustrated factors leading to relapses; such studies are rare in literature. METHODS This hospital-based, cross-sectional study included 88 patients of erythroderma of either sex and age more than 18 years; their clinical, laboratory, histopathological findings, treatment and outcome were studied. RESULTS The mean age of onset was 47.3 ± 12.35 years with the male to female ratio being 2.38:1. The most common cause of erythroderma was pre-existing dermatoses (67 %) followed by drugs (10.2 %), infections (3.4 %), malignancies (4.54 %), and idiopathic (14.7 %). Psoriasis was the predominant aetiology (45.4 %) among the pre-existing dermatoses with a maximum number of relapses (P = 0.02). Psoriasis was significantly associated with pruritus (P = 0.001), subungual hyperkeratosis (P = 0.0001), palmoplantar keratoderma (P = 0.001). Clinicohistological association was found in 64.6 % of cases. Mortality was seen in 6.8 % of cases. CONCLUSIONS As in previous studies, pre-existing dermatoses were the most common causes in our study; albeit, a special emphasis on factors leading to relapses was given to prevent further episodes. The most common factor of relapse was uncontrolled comorbid disorders (diabetes and hypertension) followed by medication nonadherence. Hence, our study suggests a need for more effective comorbidity management and creating awareness regarding judicial use of drugs which can go far in preventing mortality and morbidity. KEY WORDS Erythroderma, Adults, Aetiology, Relapses, Comorbidities.

BACKGROUND There has been an alarming increase in the prevalence of chronic, recurrent and steroid modified dermatophytosis of the glabrous skin in the recent years in India. There is paucity of literature on the magnitude of this major public health problem. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of dermatophytosis and clinico-epidemiological features of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis (CRD) across India and to evaluate the associated risk factors. METHODS This is a multicentric descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 13 centres situated across India in two phases during dry and rainy seasons. All consecutive patients presenting with dermatophytosis were screened during the study period of 14 consecutive working days. Patients with CRD of the glabrous skin as per the case definition were included after exclusion of isolated hair and nail infections. Demography, clinical findings and results of potassium hydroxide wet mount were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION A total of 41,421 patients were screened, out of which 7174 (17.31%) patients had glabrous dermatophytosis. CRD was observed in 1999 (27.86%) patients with 78.08% and 21.95% of chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis, respectively. Family history was present in 50.03% of patients. History of sharing of fomites was present in 50.37% of them. Synthetic tight clothes were worn by 43.47%, while 50.9% gave history of misuse of topical corticosteroid creams. Multiple site involvement was common (69.58%) with tinea cruris (79.99%) and tinea corporis (75.69%) being the most common clinical types. CRD is associated with sharing of fomites, topical corticosteroid misuse and involvement of multiple sites.

Childhood psoriasis is recognized as a potential multisystem disorder and hence it is imperative to optimize disease management to arrest progression, minimize psychological burden and evolution of metabolic syndrome. Clinical practice recommendations are necessary to assist practitioners in appropriate decision making based on available evidence. Owing to the lack of Indian recommendations on childhood psoriasis, the SIG Pediatric Dermatology under IADVL Academy undertook an evidence-based approach based on published literature on the topic, between January 2000 and July 2020 to frame the recommendations.

The current scenario of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a huge disease burden worldwide affecting people across all age groups. Although children get infected by coronavirus, they are less commonly affected. Only 2% of cases are being reported among patients aged less than 20 years of age and childhood cases constitute around 1–5% of them. Moreover, they are less likely to be seriously affected when compared to adults, with more than 90% of them being either asymptomatic or having mild to moderate disease. This could be attributed to less exposure or sensitivity to COVID-19, varying immune response mechanisms, differences in the expression/function of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptors or higher antibody levels to viruses owing to exposures to multiple respiratory infections, protective role of measles and BCG vaccine, and few associated comorbidities. However, children with certain underlying medical conditions like cardiac or respiratory disease, diabetes, immunodeficiency disorders, cancer or on immunosuppressants may be at a higher risk for developing severe disease.

Background: Pemphigus disorders are a group of immunobullous diseases affecting skin and/or mucus membranes. Dexamethasone cyclophosphamide pulse (DCP)/dexamethasone only pulse (DOP) therapy has shown promising results in the management of pemphigus group of diseases in adults. Aim: To evaluate the outcome of pulse therapy (PT) in pediatric cases diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Materials and Methods: Prospective study of 12 pediatric cases of PV from 2010 to 2015 and treated with PT in Gandhi Hospital. The patients were treated with DOP therapy, with a dose of 50 mg of dexamethasone in 250 ml of 5% dextrose in pediatric patients below the age of 12 years and 100 mg of dexamethasone in 500 ml of 5% dextrose for above 12 years, for three consecutive days. No interpulse steroids or rituximab were given to any patients in our study. Results: Out of 12 cases, 10 were female and 2 were male children. Four cases were below the age of 12 years and 8 cases were above the age of 12 years. The lowest age was 11 years female and highest age was 16 years male child. Average duration of illness is between 4 and 6 months. Six cases completed three phases, four cases were in phase II cycle 7, and two cases were in phase IV. In majority of cases clinical improvement was observed between 2 and 4 pulses in phase I. No significant adverse effects were observed in any case except in two cases who developed headache, shivering, and nausea in first one to two pulses of phase I and managed conservatively. Conclusion: Our study shows that PT gives good response in the management of pemphigus in children, in terms of remission and side effects. There was no significant major adverse effect as observed in adults. In low-resource centers such as government institution, PT would be one option. Further studies and long-term follow-up are required to weigh the risks and benefits of PT in pediatric age group.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a dermatomal viral infection, caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) that persists in the posterior root ganglion. HZ is uncommonly reported in immunocompetent children. It may be due to intrauterine VZV infection or secondary to postnatal exposure to VZV at an early age. Aims: Our study was to review clinico-epidemiological data for HZ in children for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from January 2013 to December 2014. Consecutive cases clinically diagnosed as HZ in the pediatric age group were taken up. Results: We report the clinico-epidemiological study of 26 cases of HZ, their benign course and recovery among children. Conclusions: HZ is a rare disease in childhood. Varicella in early childhood is a risk factor of HZ in immunocompromised and immunocompetent children. Childhood zoster occurs in either healthy or underlying immunodeficient children. The appearance of HZ in a young child does not always imply an underlying immunodeficiency or malignancy. But the identification of HZ with or without immunodeficiency is of prime importance from the treatment and prognostic point of view and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vesicular eruptions. The prognosis is generally good in healthy children.